Watford defender Adam Thompson believes he 'can only learn' from Edgar Davids while on loan at Barnet

Like any young footballer Adam Thompson wants to be playing games in order to improve and gain experience. The Watford defender admits that simple aim is the driving force behind his one-month loan move to Barnet.

The Northern Ireland international has come through the Hornets Academy and has already made more than ten appearances in the Championship.

However, following Watford’s takeover in the summer a total of 16 players were brought into Vicarage Road either on free transfers or on loan deals. Some of those on loan are expected to make their moves permanent.

It has meant the younger members have had to gain first team experience elsewhere. So Thompson is looking forward to spending the next month with the Bees.

He said: “I am hoping to get some games and help Barnet progress up the table. Obviously the position they are in at the moment is not the best but the result at the weekend against Bradford shows that things are looking good.

“The win against Bradford moved us above a couple of teams so that was a great start to my time here.

“We have a tough run coming up with many of the teams in or around the top eight. So that will be a big test. But I feel we have got the players to cope with that.”

At Watford, Thompson is managed by former Italian international Gianfranco Zola but will spend the next month under the guidance of Dutch great Edgar Davids.

“As a Tottenham fan I grew up watching him,” the 20-year-old said. “So that is one of the reasons I wanted to come here.

“They (Zola and Davids) are two legends and you have more respect for them. They have been there and done it at an unbelievable standard.

“They were both internationals so you can only learn from them.”

Thompson spent time on loan at Wycombe Wanderers earlier in the season and feels the main difference between League Two and the Championship is the style of football.

But he believes there is not too much of a skills gap between the players and thinks some of the football the Bees played against Bradford would hold itself in any of the divisions in the Football League.

One aspect of Barnet that separates the club from many in League Two is their multi-million pound training facility and Thompson believes The Hive complex is Championship standard.

He said: “The facilities are fantastic. I had heard a bit about it but I didn’t know how impressive and big they were.

“You look at the facilities and you would not say they are League Two standard, you would think that they are Championship standard. So it is great to be training there.”